Jirrbal Traditional Owners regain access to Queensland rainforest

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 23:15 · Archive

Jirrbal Traditional Owners in far north Queensland are regaining access to the Wooroora rainforest after decades of restricted access.

Jirrbal Traditional Owners in far north Queensland are regaining meaningful access to Wooroora, a 20,000 hectare property that has been closed to them for generations. For many years, much of the land has been under private ownership, restricting the Jirrbal people's ability to access and connect with their country. The moment held deep significance for Jirrbal Elder Uncle Kurt Noble, who stepped onto the rainforest for the first time after looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with his ancestral lands.

Conservation organisation Bush Heritage Australia is working with Jirrbal Traditional Owners to purchase the property and protect its ecosystem and cultural heritage. The Wooroora rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland is home to at least 12 threatened species and more than 30 species of conservation significance, including the southern cassowary, northern greater glider, red goshawk and magnificent broodfrog. The purchase requires $24.7 million, with the final $5.3 million needed by 24 December.

Once acquired, the plan is to remove the fence line with the neighbouring Yourka Reserve, also managed by Bush Heritage Australia. This would create a protected corridor of more than 400,000 hectares spanning into Koombooloomba and Tully Falls national parks. According to Bush Heritage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships manager Ross Mitchell, this would reconnect Traditional Owners to their ancestors' songlines and storylines.

How it is being reported

• Traditional Owners reclaim access to rainforest CountryConservationists and Traditional Owners are working to protect a "beautiful" 20,000 hectare property after decades of limited access for Indigenous people.The West Australian · 28 Oct, 23:01
• Traditional Owners reclaim access to rainforest CountryConservationists and Traditional Owners are working to protect a "beautiful" 20,000 hectare property after decades of limited access for Indigenous people.Perth Now · 28 Oct, 23:01

In this story: Jirrbal · Bush Heritage Australia · Wooroora · Queensland · Yourka Reserve

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